Air conditioning apparatus



Aprx l 8, 1941.

R. A. ROBEC 2,237,690

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet lInventor f I I,

12 44: 1F 6 .EdjfifiOiilZdJOZZll Attorneys R. ROBIC 2,237,690 AIRCONDITIONING APPARATUS I Filed March 15, 1939 s sheets-shed 2 4 I 6 v-,43 Y 26 242 1 3/ Inventor Attorneys April 8, 1941. R A, R 2,237,690

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS File d March 15, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Inventor '0 7 i zzjfizaiiig 0322' 5 %W Attorneys fatented Apr. 8, 1941AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Raymond A. Robic, Outremont, near Montreal.

Quebec, Canad Application March 15, 1939, Serial No. 262,074

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in air conditioningapparatus.

In the art of air treating apparatus, particuiarly that type wherein acurrent of air is forced through a zone containing liquid carryingmeans,

it has been a desideratum to overcome the defect of loss of efficiencydue to fouling, that is, the accumulation of dust and other foreignmatter which adheres to the carrying means with the result that thecirculation capacity is greatly diminished.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioningapparatus which is constructed so that it may be easily maintained in ahigh state of eillciency.

Another object of the invention is the provision of air conditioningapparatus designed to permit rapid and convenient cleaning.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of airconditioning apparatus which is equipped with insulating means disposedso as to eliminate corrosion by electrolytic action.

Consequently, the objects of the invention can be stated as follows:

An object of the invention is the provision of an air conditioningapparatus of generally improved design,

Another object of the invention is the provision of air conditioningapparatus which is highly of flolent for use as a humidifier, airwasher, cooler or de humidlfier.

A further object of the invention is the provision of air conditioningapparatus constructed to permit relative movement of parts forconvenient cleaning and replacement.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of airconditioning apparatus of the aforesaid character which is relativelysimple and compact in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description progreases.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like reference characters are employed to designate correspond ingparts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus,

Figure 2 is a rear end elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same,

Figure 4 is a similar view showing an upper section of the devicedisposed at an angular inclination to the base,

Figure 5 is a top plan view partly in section, Figure 6 is a transversesection taken on the line 6-4 of Figure 3,

Figure '1 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 1-1 ofFigure 3, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevation of'the gearmechanism, partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of the invention, B generally designatesthe base structure of the apparatus embodying a pair of normallyvertical side wall sections it which may be formed of flat sheet metalof rectangular longitudinally elongated shape, each having an inturnedflange II at the bottom. These flanges are fastened, as by rivets i2, toa pair of complen mentary sheet metal cross strips I3 arranged in ahorizontal plane and extending transversely of r the side walls at thefront andrear of the base. To the top and bottom faces of the crossmembers I3 are connected annular grommets ll of cushioning material,such as s'di't rubber, forced through an aperture of said members it.

In the forward portion oi the base Bis mounted an elongated rectangularshaped tank '1,

open at the top and having the longer vertical side walls It securedagainst horizontal transversely extending bars I1. These bars extendalong the upper margin of the tank walls and the ends are flanged forconnection with the sides ill of the base. The forward portionof thetank rests on the upper rubber grommets l4 and the upper edges of theside walls 16 as well as the end walls It are disposed to assumepositions level with the top edges of the base walls in.

To the rear wall It of the tank is connected a conventional feed controlvalve V formed with a horizontal projectingdischarge conduit 20 to theend of which is pivotally connected a vertically movable float arm 2 I.At the free end of the float arm is secured a vertically disposed hollowfloat drum 22. A feed tube 25 connects the valve V with a pipe coupling28 mounted horizontally on an angle bracket 21 secured on the rear crossmember ii. To the outer end of the coupling 26 is attached an end of afluid supply pipe 28. Thus, the feed supply regulating mechanism isdesigned to maintain the water or other liquid in the tank D at apredetermined level, as illustrated at Figure 6, the valve 1) beingconstructed to admit water through the feed and supply pipes when thelevel of water in the tank is below the predeterr'nined height and toautomatically cut oil. the water feed when this level is reached. Withthis in mind, the fioatarm 2| is disposed to contact with a valve rod 29to retract the rod and close the valve when the proper liquid level isattained in the tank and to release the rod which is springactuated toyieldingly open the valve when the water level is below the normalcapacity height.

An overflow tube 3| connects an outlet port 32 of the tank with acoupling 33 secured in an angle bracket 34 and making connection,through the coupling, with a drain pipe 35.

On the base section B is movably mounted a frame F supporting the rotarymechanism of the apparatus. This frame structure embodies a supportmember in the form of a sheet metal trough-shaped device ofapproximately triangular cross section extending the full width of thebase between the side walls I rearwardly of the tank T. This member mayconsist of a front wall 31 which, in a normal assembly of the apparatus,assumes an arrangement extending transversely of the base and at aninclined plane relative thereto, the lower rear portion being bent toform a relatively narrow horizontal part 38. Formed integral with thefront wall 31 and the part 88 is a relatively large rectangular endplate 39 arranged to assume a vertical position at the rear of theapparatus. This end plate is cut out to form a relatively large circularopening 40 and is formed with flanges 4| at the top and side edges forreinforcement thereof. At the ends of the trough-shaped member thusformed are provided approximately triangular shaped vertical end walls42. This one piece support member is connected to the base by means oftubular rivets 43 extended through apertures in the lower rear portionsof the end walls 42 and through aligned apertures in the rear portionsof the base side walls It! in such manner as to allow pivotal movementof the support frame in a vertical plane relative to the base. In orderto prevent possible noise at this point. caused by wear or looseness.resilient washers 43' of rubber or the like are interposed between theflanges of the rivets and the apertured walls. The connected elementsare thus cushioned to eliminate vibration and yet relatively free tomove with respect to each other.

The whole pivoted assembly is held fast to the side walls III by meansof screws 31' threadedly engaging said walls and passed throughapertures in the sides 42. Thus, pivotal movement, for cleaningpurposes, is rendered relatively easy and quick (see Figs. and 4) To theupper marginal portion of the inclined wall 31 is secured, by bolts 45,an angular bracket plate 48 having the main body portion thereofarranged vertically while the inclined bottom flange portion is mountedparallel with the wall 31. Through apertures in the plate 48 areextended the outer end portions of a. plurality of studs 41 secured tothe front portion of an electric motor M. A complementary bracket plate48. secured by bolts 49 to the wall 31, connects with the rear of themotor so that the latter is firmly supported above the wall with itsaxis extending horizontally in the normal arrangement of the apparatus.On a rearwardly projecting section 50 of the motor shaft is fastened afan having its hub 5| secured on the shaft section by a set screw andits blades 52 dis osed radially of the hub in the opening of the endplate.

A wire screen 53, fastened to the rear of the end plates 49, provides aguard for the outer side of an the front face of the bracket plate 46 issecured a gear housing 55 having a bore 56 truding hub section 89 havingthrough'which a forwardly projecting section I! of the motorshaftextends. In the gear chamber of the housing 55 is journalled avertical transmission shaft 58 having a worm wheel 59 on its upper partin mesh with a worm 60 on the drive section 51. On the lower part of theshaft 58 is formed or secured a worm 6! adapted to mesh with a wormwheel 62 on a shaft 63 arranged parallel with and offset below the shaftsection 51. This shaft 83 is journalled in a bore of a bearing cap 64threadedly mounted to engage an opening in the lower front portion ofthe housing. On the projecting end of the shaft 53 is formed a balljoint section 65 provided with a transverse pin engaging bore.

The motor shaft section 63 is adapted to drive an air treating wheel W,of any preferred type, for example embodying a strip of material 6'!coiled to form a plurality of spaced convolutions. mounted about acentre core 68. At one end of the core is provided a tubular rearwardlyproslidably fitted therein a. cylindrical insert 10 held in position bya set screw H and formed with an axially projecting socket extension 12.The said insert 10 (Fig. 8) is of insulating material and is used toelectrically insulate the wheel W from the electric motor. This is animportant feature preventing electrolysis of the wheel metal-due topossible leakage of electric current through a grounded motor, forinstance, or due to any other cause. In the bore of this socket I2 isfitted an annular bearing ring 13 adapted to receive the ball joint 55therein. A pin 14, secured in the ring extends therethrough and throughthe bore of the ball 65 which is shaped to allow limited angularmovement of the latter relative to the sleeve to furnish a flexibleshaft connection. At the front end of the wheel core is provided aforwardly projecting spindle 15 adapted to be journalled in a bearingsleeve 16 mounted in-an aperture in the upper part of a verticallyarranged bar 11 fastened to the centre of the strip H extending acrossthe top margin of the tank wall 50. In operative assembly the wheel W isadapted to assume a position with its axis extending horizontally, thatis, parallel with the tank 'I' and having its bottom portion dependinginto the tank and the liquid therein, as shown at Figure 3.

Supported on the base B, so as to cover the rotary mechanism, is a hoodof arcuate approximately semi-circular transverse curvature essentiallyconcentric with the axis of the wheel W, having its rear edge disposedagainst the end plate 39 and its forward edge extended beyond the frontof the wheel. This hood may be formed of sheet metal and ismainly ofuniform dimensions with the exception of a transverse corrugation Cshaped therein to project inwardly adjacent the rear face of the wheel.This corrugation is shaped to provide a substantially vertical forwardwall portion 8| and a gradually curved rear wall portion 82 and is ofgreatest depth at the centre-line of the hood with a diminishing tapertoward its side edges. At spaced intervals along the longitudinal sidemargins of the hood are provided a pair of laterally oflset supportclips 83 which may be stamped from the sheet material and adapted toslidably fit over the upper margins of the base walls ill for holdingthe covering hood removably in position on the base.

During operation of the apparatus for humidifying purposes, a supply ofwater at natural temperature is maintained at a predetermined assacoosubstantially constant level in the tank by means at the floatcontrolled valve V and connection of the fuel and drain conduits. Due tothe worm gearing in the housing 55, the wheel W is rotated noiselesslyand at a predetermined speed greatly reduced in comparison with therotary speed of the drive motor M and the fan directly driven thereby.Due to adhesion, the wheel carries a film of water upwardly on itsconvolutions i rom the tank or reservoir and the fan blowsja current ofair therethrough, effecting evaporation of the water and therebyliberating moisture into the air stream, as well as cleaning the air. Asa result thereof, the air of the room is 311m: difledwashed and cooled.The last efiect, namely: cooling, is a very important characteristic ofthe present mechanism for humidii'ying air. Due to the well-knownphysical phenomenon of heatbsorption by evaporating liquids, aconsiderable quantity of B. t. u.s are withdrawn from the evaporatingsurfaces, with a great reduction in their temperature. The air blownacross said surfaces is correspondingly cooled, sometimes to the extentof 16 F. or

more, below the room. temperature.

Due also to the condensing action of cold surfaces uponliquid-saturated-gases, the present apparatus .can be used tode-humidify excessively damp atmospheres, for instance, by the simpleexpedient of filling the tank with ice-cold water or units coldanti-freeze mixtures.

us, the water or other liquid having a temperature below that of theatmosphere of the room in. which the apparatus is positioned, the waterhim on the convolutions of the wheel presents a cool surface whichfunctions to condense moisture from the air blown therethrough tonihstantially reduce the moisture content of the atmosphere. a

The curved ridge formed at the inner side oi the hood by the corrugationC functions to di root the outer portions of the air stream into theoutermost spaces between the convolutions of the wheel and obviatespassage thereof between the periphery of the wheel and the hood, so asto utilize the air'current with utmost eihcienoy.

it become necessary to clean the tank or repair or replace parts of theapparatus, access thereto is facilitated by swinging the cupport means'Fand the rotatlve mechanism.

' mounted thereon upwardly through a vertical are about the axis of therivets it. A partial ging movement of this superstructure is shown atFigure 4. This is accomplished by flexing the front tank wall Itoutwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines at Figure 5,-to offset thebearing sleeve 18 and release the wheel spindle "it which allows tiltingof the pivoted frame to a position enabling convenient access to allparts at the apparatus.

The provision of spacing rings or washers of rubber or similar yieldablematerial on the base as well as the motor bracket connection alsoelinates vibration sound so that the machine operates without noise, andonly the blower air current is heard." As stated previously, thisinsulation also operates .to prevent circulation of undesirable electriccurrents which, eventually,

' create a corrosive electrolytic action with eventual destruction ofthe humidifying wheel.

Finally, an out wheel design has a great advantage over other typeshaving wicks,ufabrics or other foraminous elementsv wetted by capillaryaction only. In such an apparatus, it is clear that a given area ofthewet surfaces is charged with air humidifier embodying the preswaterremaining stationary until evaporated. Consequently, the dissolved saltsand other solid matter that may be present are left as a residue liableto bacterial action and clogging the pores of the element.

Furthermore, after drying up longed shut-down, humidifiers so equippedcannot be restored without a thorough washing, due

the base member upon to the foul smell emitted.

The present wheel eliminates the above disadvantages, since the waterfilm on the wheel surfaces has no time to dry up before said surfacesare again wetted in the tank. Therefore, waterdissolved salts do notremain on the wheel, the solid matter is washed constantly and the watercontinuously aerated by the movement of the wheel. As a result,bacterial action is lessened to such an extent that a dry wheel can beoperated, after complete shut-down, without objectionable smell or dustbeing emitted.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed'is to be takon as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subioined claims.

Having thus described my invention,

1. In air conditioning her, a the base member, a motor supported on theironic member, an air treating wheel having driving connection with themotor, a tan adapted to blow a current of air through the wheel havingdriving connection with the motor, and a transversely curved hoodsupported on the base membar and covering the rotary mechanism andhavlog a transverse ridge shaped to direct the air from the blower intothe wheel and prevent passage thereof between the periphery oi the wheeland the hood.

it. In air conditioning apparatus, a base member, a frame memberpivotally connected with the base member, a motor supported on theiranie member, an air treating wheel ving driving connection with themotor, a tan adapted to blow a current of air through the wheel havingdriving connection with the motor, and a hood of approximatelysemi-circular cross section supported on the base and covering the motordriven wheel and tau, the said hood having a ridge formed on theinterior adjacent the wheel so as to direct the air current from the faninto the wheel and prevent passage thereof between the wheel and thehood.

3. In air conditioning apparatus, a base mornher having opposed verticalside walls, a frame member extending transversely between the said sidewalls and having end walls disposed adjacent the said side walls of thebase, a pivot element plvotally connecting each end wall of the framewith a side wall of the base member, a motor supported on the framemember, an air treating wheel having driving connection with the saidmotor, and a fan adapted to blow a current of air through the wheelhaving driving connection with the motor, the axes of the fan and airwheel being adapted to normally extend in a plane parallel with a planethrough the base member and being tiltable to vertically inclinedangular positions relative to the plane through pivotal movement of thei claim: apparatus, a base mema frame.

4. In air conditioning obparatus, a base member having opposed verticalsi walls, a frame member extending transversely between the side due toa proframe member pivotally connected with walls of the base and havinga wall at each end pivotally connected with each of the side walls ofthe base, a plate on said frame member having a circular openingtherein, a motor supported on the frame member, an air treating wheelhaving driving connection with the motor, and a fan adapted to blow acurrent of air thrmllh the wheel having driving connection with themotor and arranged within the opening-of the frame plate, the said framebeing plvotally tiltable to swing the axes of the air wheel and fan froma normal substantially horizontal arrangement to a vertically inclinedarrangement.

RAYMOND A. ROBIC.

